Convertible trunk



'W. ANDERSON.

CONVERTIBLE TRUNK.

APPLICATION man SEPT. 2. me.

Patented Apn. 12, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Mina win! 11:11-; JMQ

W. ANDERSON.

CONVERTIBLE TRUNK.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-2. 1919.

1 ,374, 3- 16. Patented Apr. 12, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2. a; fl

W. ANDERSON.

CONVERTIBLE TRUNK. APPLICATION FILED SEPT-2. 1919.

1,374,346. Pmteu r. 12,1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES WILHELMINE ANDERSON, OF WEST NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY.

CONVERTIBLE TRUNK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 12, 1921.

Application filed September 2,1919. Serial No. 321,132.

To all to 7mm it may concern Be it known that I, TILHELMINE ANDER- SON, a citizen of Sweden, residing in the city of est New York, in Hudson county, in the State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Convertible Trunks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of trunks having hinged trunk sections which are constructed and operatively connected in such a manner as to form a useful article of furniture, such as a wardrobe or desk, when not in use for the usual and ordinary purposes of a trunk.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple, economical and eflicient convertible trunk, adapted to be converted with facility in such a manner as to enable it to be employed as a useful article of household furniture, such as a wardrobe or desk, or an improved combined trunk, wardrobe and desk.

Qther and further objects of the invention will appear from the following description and claims, and from an inspection of the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof.

The invention consists in the features, combinations, details of construction and arrangement of parts herein described and claimed.

In -the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of an improved convertible trunk constructed in accordance with my invention, showing the trunk closed, in full lines, and with one of the hinged trunk sections raised or in open position, in broken lines;

Fig. 2, is a side view in perspective of a trunk, such as that shown in Fig. 1, with the parts arranged in position to form a wardrobe having a drawer-containing section located in front of a wardrobe compartment, the wardrobe compartment being of greater height than the drawer section and extending down back of the latter, but in position to be readily accessible;

Fig. 3, is a view in central vertical section taken on line 3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 4, is a detail view in perspective of the wardrobe section, showing the same provided with a bottom opening adapted to permit garments hung in the section to extend downward through the open bottom,

and showing a telescoping inner member, in a partially lowered position with respect to the outer wardrobe member;

Fig. 5, is a detail view in perspective, of the drawercontaining compartment or section shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3;

Flg. 6, is a view in perspective of the trunk shown in Fig. 1, with the trunk sections and parts in position to form a flattopped desk;

Fig. 7, is a view in perspective of a combined wardrobe and desk formed by placing a wardrobe section directly over the drawercontaining section, with the hinged connecting member or table member in horizontal position between said upper and lower sections-the wardrobe section being a modification of the wardrobe section shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and r, in that it has a fixed bottom, and fixed rigidly connected walls on all sides except the front side, which has suitable hinged doors;

Fig. 8 is a detail view in perspective, of the telescoping inner member 01 the wardrobe section, shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail View of the hinge connections; and V Fig. 10 is a detail view in section on line 10 of Fig. 9.

In constructing an improved convertible trunk in accordance with my invention, I

provide a wardrobe section 1, a drawer-containing section 2, and a flat outer back or connecting member 3, the section 2 being hinged to what is normally the lower margin of the connecting member 3 by means of suitable hinges 4, and the upper or wardrobe section 1 being connected with the upper margin of the connecting member or main desk-top forming member 8 by means of suitable hinges 5. The back or desk-top forming and connecting member 3 is, by preference flat, and of suitable dimensions to form the main outer back wall portion of the trunk, and is adapted to cover and inclose the rear sides of both of the upper or ing and guarding strips 11 which cover all of the margins of said trunlr section 2 that are exposed when the trunlr is in use or closed. The other main trunlr section or wardrobe section'l, when constructed as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 1, comprises in its construction end walls 12 and top wall 14, and front side wall 15 all rigidly connected at their outer margins by means of metallic connecting and guarding strips or angle iron members, or other suitable connecting and guarding means. And the rear inner side wall of section 1 is, by preference, provided with a suitable opening 17 adapted to permit garments to extend downward therethrough when said section is in raised or wardrobedorming position, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4;, and has or may consist of a hinged wall or door 18 provided with marginal inclosing flanges 19, '19, and 21, hinged to the outer margin of said trunk section 1 and adapted to form a closure for said opening 17.

strip or hinge portion 22 of heavy canvas, leather or other suitable flexible material adapted to form a waterproof closure across the adjacent marginal or ringed edge 01" said door and the edge 01": the section 1 to which the door is flexibly connected by means of such flexible connection or hinge 22. The outer surfaces oi? the walls ofthe upper trunk section 1, the lower trunk section 2, and the desk-top forming connecting member 3 are, by preference, all covered with a, suitable protecting layer 23 of canvas, leather or sheet metal, or other well-known form of strong water-proof sheet material, the main body portions of the walls of the trunk sections being made of wood, fiber board, composition or other suitable material adapted to provlde the desired rigidity and strength without unnecessary weight.

The drawer-containing sectionis'provided with suitable sliding drawers 2 1, 2 5 and 26, of suitable dimensions, and which are adapted to be slidably mounted in said tion in any suitable ordinary and well known manner, and by preference, in such a manner as to be readily inverted, or renamed and replaced in any desired order.

ln order to strengthen and enable the open side or bottom of the wardrobe section to be still more tightly and securely closed "when desired, and to enable it to be readily opened so to be suitable for use as a wart robe member adapted to permit garments hung therein to extend down through the open bottom when said section is in wardrobe-forming position as indicated in Figs. 2'and 3, the inner margin is provided with a strong corner strip or rib 27, and an inner telescoping closure member 28, having upright corner guides 29 and a closed botbe ceverec The door or inner back wall 18 is provided with a tom 30 adapted to snugly into and ti htly close the opening 17, and to be lowered to the positions shown in and 3, la d raised to closed position so as l and inclosed inside of and by means or the door 18, is proyided and mounted in the section l, in such position th t the corner guiding members are adapted to slide in the corresponding corners of said trunk-sectionl.

The front side of the inner or lower telescoping me; her 28, which is-on the open side of the upoer or wardrobe section 1, 18 open, and the same true of the opposite or rtar side, but a low-front side wall 31 and low rear side wall 32, and suitable end walls 33, are provided and joined together tightly at their margins, so as to form tight closure for the bottom of the trunk section 1, when the inner telescoping member 28 is in raised or closed position. The ends of the said telescoping member 28 be closed entirely or to any desired extent by means of thin end walls 3%, 34, which may be of any desired height, even to the extent of reaching from the bottom of the upper onward robe section 1, to the bottom of the drawer section 2 when the parts are in position to be used' as a wardrobe, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. (See also Figs. l and S.) The end wall plates 34:, E i may be omitted, however, when desired, inorder topermit any desired form ofgarinent supports to be mounted in posiion in the wardrobe section; The garmentsupports shown in the drawings are of a very simple form consisting, of bars or shelfsupports hinged to supporting brackets 36 mounted in any suitable manner on a an ble support, suca as thewall l i of the wardrobe section 1, so that the swinging ends of the rods may be swung back to said wall and forward in the direction of the front or open of the wardrobe section, as shown in Figs; 3 and and suitable adj table rods or garmentsupport-s, 37' are aogustably and reniovably mounted upon these hinged rods or shelf supports. lt is obvious that any desired number of pairs of the rodsor shelf-supports be adjustably and removably mounted in the wardrobe section 1 in position to support ,o arment-supporting rods 36 or shelves for containing books or other art1cles,-as ee- .w- A I, +1 at V 3 31, 1 J: .e snea, or Una lily eesneo em a) e ieim or inner fixtures may be employed in either The inner telescoping member 28 is provided with short foldable feet or bosses LO adapted to rest upon the floor level and support the forward bottom edge of the said telescoping member; and supporting pins or catches ll at the upper edge of the lower or inner telescoping member 28 are adapted to engage the lower extremity of the trunk section 1, so to support the forward portion of the latter in raised position when the parts are in position to form a wardrobe, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. These catches may be in the form oi mere pins removab'ly inserted in suitable openings in either the inner telescoping section 28 or the wardrobe section 1, and adapted to engage an edge or notch in the adjacent part of the ether one of said telescoping parts.

T he door 18 at the back lower margin of the trunk section l is provided at each end with a toldable flap i2 having one of its edges secured in water tight engagement with the lower edge of the corresponding side wall at the section 1 throughout the entire length of said edge, and the other edge of said flap in water tight engagement with the door 18 just inside of the flange 19 but in position to permit the foldablei'laps to fold inward on the inside of the adjacent flanges 19 and door 18. The flange 21 on the long edge of the door 18 is flexibly connected with the latter by means of suitable flexible material such as strong canvas or leather, so as to form a water-tight connection with said door; and suitable connecting means, such as a series of headed bolts 43 inserted. in suitable openings in the flanges ot the door 18 and in openings in the adjacent margi' il portions oi the wardrobe section 1, serve to securely fasten the door in closed water-tight position, when the trunk is to be used a trunk distinguished from a WllIhlOllS or desk. Any ordinary and well known form of securing means t'or holding the door closed and adapted to permit it to be readily opened and tightly closed may be employed. n In Fig. 7 is shown a trunk section at which is constructed in all respects the same as the wardrobe section 1' already described. and shown in 1, 2, 1-, and (3 except that said section 44: base fixed rigid wall to which is without any opening to permit the garments to hang down at full length therethrough. And, when the form of wardrobe section shown in Fig. 7 and indicated by the numeral 44 is used, the door 18 may be dispensed with. or, as shown in said figure, said door may be turned back to the position in which itis shown in full lines, but partly broken away, and a curtain l6 may be attached in any suitable manner to said door so as to hauls.

down around the back and side margins of the door back of the sections 4s and 2, to

form a curtained compartment, as shown in said figure. In Fig. 7 the wardrobe section M- is placed directly over or in superposed relation to the section 2, and

the main desk-top member 3, which serves to connect the sections t i and 2, or. the sections 1 and 2, as the case may be, by being hinged to each while the device is adjusted for use as trunk asin Fig. l, or as a desk as in Fig. 6, is disconnected'at its hinges from the wardrobe section at and adjusted in o position to extend forward between the wardrobe section and the drawer section 2, to form a desk in front of said sections, as shown in Fig. 7. Section I. may be employed in the sameposition or in lieuc of section id as. shown in said Fig. 7, if desired. And it is plain that the main desk-top and connecting member 3, when connected with both of the sections 1 and2, by means of the hinges 5, is adapt ed to enable said sections 1 and 2 to be adjusted to the positions in which they are shown in full lines in 6, to form a flat-topped desk, without disconnecting any oi the hin es, and that the sections 1 and 2 are adapted to be adjusted from the position in which they are shown in full lines in Fig. 6, or deslt-forming. position, to trunk-forming position, in. which they are shown in broken lines in Fig. 6 and in full lines, in Fig. 1, without disconnecting the desk-top member from either of the sections 1 or 2.

In order to enable the sections 1 and 2, and other parts t be ar anged and used as illustrated in F igs. 2 and it is only neces- Jary to disconnect the desk-top member 3 TIMI}. the drawer section 2, and leave it connected with the wardrobe section 1, so as to storm a support for the latter, and a closure for the bottom portion. of the wardrobe compartment the side walls and bottom ofwhich are formed by the telescoping section 28, and the drawer section 2, which also serres to support tl forward part of the section 1, when the parts are in the position shown in said F s. 2 and 3.

in view of the for me; it will be readily soon that it is highly d eirable that means he provided for enabling the ronnecting desk-top member 3 to be readily connected with and di connected from eit or or in r l. and 2, as desired, and in such a manner that they cannotbe disconnectec. in any way which will enable the trunk to be opened without a key, or without first unlocking and turning the main trunk sections to trunh-opening position. i

In order to enable this to be accomplished in a simple and eiiicient manner, each of the hinges st and 5 is provided with a removable pintle 4-7 in the form of a headed pin or rod having a laterally projecting; boss 4:8 adapted to pass through radial notches 419 in the eye members 4:9, 19 of the hinges, when the latter are in a desired predetermined position with respect to each other, with the trunk sections 1 and 2 unlocked and in open position. But the radial notches or slots 49 are so disposed that they are out otalinement with each other when the hinge parts are in the position which theyoccupy when the trunk is closed, thus preventing the removal of either of the pintles while the trunk is closed, but permitting them to be readily removed by first unlocking the trunk and turning the hinged trunk sections 1 and 2, or either of said sections which is to be detached from the part 8, to the required open position to bring the slots 49 into alinement, in which position they are adapted to permit the withdrawal of the pintle 17 by turning the same into position to cause the locking boss 48 to pass out through the slots 19 along withthe removable self-locking pintle thus provided. The hinges 5 are thus self locking, and adapted to prevent the trunk from being opened by removing the pintles or disconnecting the hinges without first unlocking the lock '50, which may be or any desired ordinary and well known or suitable form of trunk lock The leaves 51 and 52 of the hinges 5 may be made long enough to extend along the margin of the trunk section orconnected part to which they are attached throughout the entire length of such margin or edge, and may be integral with or connected with the hinge eyes or sockets at the opposite extremities of the margins or parts connected by means of the hinges, thus afiording great strength and forming strong corner-shielding members for the connected marginal portions 01" the trunk.

In Figs. 9 and 10, the eyes 49 of the two hinge members of a hinge 5the hinges i and 5 being, by preference of identical construction -and the removable pintle 47 and securing or locking boss 18 are shown in full lines in position to prevent the removal of the detachable pintle, or as they would be with the main trunk sections 1 and 2 and outer back wall member 3 in trunk-closing position the boss i8 being seated in a notch d8 in the margin of the back wall member 3, and in such position that the notches d9 in the hinge members 4L9 are in position to prevent the removal of the boss l8 there through until the notches are turned to the position in which they are shown in broken lines in said Figs. 9 and 10, which is the position they are adapted to occupy when the pintle is inserted and the trunk sections and rear back wall member are in trunkopening position.

Hinge eyes 5 may be secured to the inner back wall member or-lid 18 of the trunk \QSQClPlQH 1 and in position to be pivoted on the detachable pintles at? just inside of the nect the outer back wall member with the main trunk sections land 2, if desired, as

indicated in Figs. 6 and 1 r; and the same is true of the hinge member 5 with respect to being connected with and forming hinge connections for the lid or door 9 of the trunk section 2. (See Figs. 5 and 6 and 10.)

I claim; a 1. A trunk comprising in its construction a pair of opposite main trunk sections each having a front wall, end walls, and an inner back wall portion the margins of which are movable into'and out of trunk-closing engagement with the adjacent corresponding margins of the opposite main trunk section, and a hinged outer connecting back wall member. connected with said main trunk sections and acting to overlap, en-

and inclose said adjacent margins of the inner back wall portions OJi Sitld main trunk sections and to hold the rear portions or" the main trunk sections trunk-closing engagement with each other and permit the movement of the same into and out of trunlnclosing position.

A trunk comprising in its construction a pair of opposite main trunk sections each having a front wall, end walls, and a hinged inner back wall adapted to form a section cover, and hinged outer connecting back member connected at its opposite'edges with the hinged margins of said hinged inner back wall members and the corresponding adjacent hinged margins of said main trunk sections, and acting to overlap, engage and inclose and hold the opposite margins of the main trunk sections and hinged inner We: wall members in engagement with each other in trunk-closing position. 1

A convertible trunk comprising in its construction a pair of opposite main trunk sections each having a front wall, end walls, and a hinged inner back wall adapted to form a section cover, a hinged outer connecting back inember having hinged connection at its opposite edges with the'hinged margins of said hinged inner back wall mem-- bers and the corresponding adjacent hinged margins of said main trunk sections, and acting to overlap, engage and hold the 0pposite swinging margins of the main trunk sections and hinged inner wall members in engagement with each other in trunk-closing position, and means for securing the forward portions or said main trunk sections in trunk-closing position. 1. A trunk comprising in itsconstruction apair of opposite main trunk sections each having a front wall, end walls and a hinged inner back wall the margins of which are movable toward and from the correspond ing marginal portions of the opposite main trunk section into and out of trunk-closing engagement with each other, an outer connecting back wall member mounted in position to overlap and inclose the adjacent margins of said inner back walls of said main trunk sections, detachable hinge mechanism connected with a. marginal portion of said outer connecting back wall member and with the adjacent main trunk section and the hinged margin of the inner back wall of said section and forming a detachable connection between said parts, detachable hinge mechanism connected with the opposite margin of said outer connecting back wall member and with the other one of said main trunk sections and the hinged margin of the inner back wall of said section and forming a detachable connection between said parts, and means for securing the forward portions of said main trunk sections in trunk-cldsing position.

5. In a trunk of the class described, the combination of a pair of opposite main trunk sections each having a front wall, end walls and an inner back wall portion the margins of which are movable toward and from the corresponding marginal portions of the opposite main trunk section into and out of trunk-closing engagement with each other, an outer back wall member mounted in position to overlap and inclose said adjacent margins of the inner back wall pertions of said main trunk sections, connecting means forming a connection between one of the margins of said outer back wall member and one of said main trunk section, hinge mechanism forming a detachable hinged connection between the other margin of said outer back wall member and the other of said main trunk sections, said hinge mechanism comprising securing means having a locking member normally engaged and held in nonremovable position by an adjacent hinge member when the main trunk sections are in trunk-closing position, and adapted to be moved to releasing position when the main trunk sections are in open position, and locking mechanism for looking the main trunk sections in trunlnclosing position.

(5. In trunk of the class described, the combination of a pair of opposite main trunk sections each having a front wall, end walls and an inner back wall. portion the margins of which are movable into and out of trunk-closing engagement with the adjacent corresponding margins of the opposite main trunk section, an outer connecting back wall member mounted in position to overlap and inclose said adjacent margins of the inner back wall portions of said main trunk sections, detachable connecting means forming a detachable hinged connection between one of the margins of said outer back wall member and an adjacent main trunk section, said detachable connecting means comprising a connecting member adapted to be held nonremovably in connecting position when the main trunk sections are closed, means for connecting saidouter back wall member with the other main trunk section, and means for locking the main trunk sections in closed position.

7. In a trunk of the class described, the combination of a pair oi. opposing main trunk sections each having a front wall, end walls and an inner back wall portion the margins of which are movable toward and from the corresponding marginal portions of the opposite main trunk section, the inner back wall of one of said main trunk sections being movable with respect to the end walls of the same trunk section of which it forms a part, to position to form an opening in said main trunk section adapted to permit garments suspended in said main. trunk section to hang down through said opening when the main trunk sections are in opened wardrobeforming position, foldable flaps of flexible water proof material connected with the opposite ends oi said relatively movable inner back wall member and with the adjacent margins of the end walls of said main trunk section, said fold able flaps being adapted to form a waterproof connection between said inner back wall and said end walls, an inner telescoping member slidably mounted in said last-mentioned main trunk section, and movable to and from extended position through said opening, an outer connecting back wall member mounted in position to overlap and inclose said relatively movable inner back wall member when the main trunk sections are in trunk-closing position, said outer back wall member being movable to position to permit the opening and closing of said inner back wall member, means for detachably connecting said outer back wall memher with each of said main trunk sections, securing means located inside of the trunk and inaccessible from the outside of said trunk when the main trunk sections are in trunk closing position, said securing means acting to prevent the releasing of said connection between the outer back wall member and either of said main trunk sections when the main trunk sections are in trunk closing position, and means for locking said trunk sections in trunk-closing position.

Signed at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois this 29th day of August, 1919.

VILHELMINE ANDERSON.

Witnesses:

HARRY I. CROMER, W. Hoonrne. 

